Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-06-02
AN ISLAND MAN
KNOCKED INSENsIBLB AND THEN SCALDED
TO DRATH.
A Terrible Accident at A. ]. Bags l. Sons
Planning Mill, at Bridgeport Ysster-
day Afternoon.

Just about two o'clock yesterday after
noon an accident occurred in the boiler
room of A. J. Baggs & Sons planning mill,
at Bridgeport, which resulted in the almost
instant death of Charles Honas, the engi-
neer of the mill. The boilers are located
in the western part OF the mill, fronting
south, their rear ends being about three
feet from the line of street which runs
westwardly from the direction of the c. &
7. track. On the west and north sides Of
the brick walls enclosing the boilers and
furnaces there is a passage-way about two
feet and half wide, paved with brick, and
in the west paSsage-way, which runs north
and south, there is a square opening
about four or five feet in depth, extending
to a sewer. A two-inch pipe, connecting
with the mud-yalye Of the boilers, extends
into the alley-way, runs south along il
for about five feet, and then down the
opening into the sewer, allowing the e.
Gaping steam and water, when the valve
is open, to pass of under the ground.
About two o'clock Engineer Honas
went into this alley-way, and going north
along it until he had passed the point
where the pipe entends through the brick
wall from the boilers, he faced about to the
south, and STOPPING low down, he turned
the wheel which opens the mud
valve. The valve must have been
opened suddenly, thus subjecting tine pipe
to Il sudden strain, for it parted at the
elbow where the turn was made into the
sewer opening, and the five feet of pipe
lying on the floor of the alley swung
upwards toward the north as though on
pivot and came down with terrible force
upon the head of the knceling engineer.
The blow must have been heavy enough to
partially stun Mr.. Honas, while the large
amount of steam and hot water discharged
through the two-inCh pipe at pressure of
G5 or 80 pounds tell full upon him. The
unfortunate man managed to drag himself
northward few feet and then Crawled to
the east around behind the boilers, where
he was afterwards found, lying on his face
in the corner at the extremity of the alley,
dead, with serious wound upon the top
of his head and his flesh literally cooked.
The roar of the escaping steam and the
dense volume of the hot vapOr which al
most Immediately poured, into the mill,
and from every crevice OF the boiler room
into the open air, apprized the employees of
the establishment that an accident had oc.
Cured, and a crowd soon gathered in the
street Immediately behind the bOiler-roOm.
A small door which leads into the alley
where the accident occurred was forced
open, and n piece OF timber was used to
turn the steam pipe over in its original
position, thus throwing the jet Of steam TO
the south. In this way the valve was
reached and shut down, and in n moment
or two the body of Mr.. ll0nas was found
and removed TO another part of the prem
ises. Dr. Cook was at once summoned, but
his skill was of no avail, as life
was extinct. Justice Robinson WAS sent
for, and after viewing the remains and
| learning the nature of the accident, he de-
cided that an inquest was unnecessary.
The body was removed TO the family
residence at the west end of Virginia
street, Island, last evening The deceased
was about 40 years Of aye, and leaves a
wife and seven children. Deceased was
formerly a railroad engineer, but had
been in the employ of Baggs q Son for six
or seven years. lie was noted for his eX-
treme carefulness in the discharge of his
duty.
No damage was done to the mill build
ing or the boilers.